Zheng Qinwen’s dreams were realised when she defeated Donna Vekic in the women’s singles gold medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Chinese star, just 21 years of age, won the biggest prize of her burgeoning career with a 6-2 6-3 triumph in Saturday’s final at Roland Garros.
It was a near-identical scoreline by which she lost the Australian Open 2024 final, to Aryna Sabalenka. That was then her most notable result, one which propelled her into the top 10.
Despite that disappointment, she learned from it, and thrived when another shot at glory arrived in Paris.
"I had a lot of nerves. I feel my legs were super heavy. I couldn’t perform 50 percent of my level,” she said of the AO final seven months ago.
“But this final was different. It’s because of this calmness and patience that I was able to get the victory.
“I see (other athletes) winning gold, silver and bronze medals for China. And I want to be one of them.”
She now is, becoming just the second Chinese gold medallist in Olympic tennis history.
And her triumph continues an impressive Paris 2024 Games for China on the tennis court, after Wang Xinyu and Zhang Zhizhen captured silver in the mixed doubles.
Zheng rarely looked in doubt in the gold medal match against Vekic, opening a 3-0 lead and then breaking a second time to take the opening set.
An early break in the second put her in a dominant position, and despite Vekic breaking back immediately, Zheng converted her fourth break point in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead – earning her an opportunity to serve for the match.
On her first match point, she struck a forehand winner – her 22nd of the match, nine more than Vekic – and collapsed to the court.
The match-up always favoured Zheng, competing on her favourite surface against Vekic, who excels on faster surfaces.
The Croatian had just reached the Wimbledon semifinals, where she endured a heartbreaking defeat to Jasmine Paolini.
VEKIC'S HEARTBREAK: "I thought I was going to die in the third set"
She rebounded impressively, beating major champions Bianca Andreescu and Coco Gauff, then Marta Kostyuk 10-8 in a match tiebreak, to reach the medal rounds.
A 6-4 6-0 win over surprise semifinalist Anna Karolina Schmiedlova ensured Vekic either a gold or silver medal.
"I’m extremely proud and happy to have won a medal for Croatia. It’s been my lifelong dream,” she said.
“Yesterday (the semifinal win) has been one of the happiest days of my life. Of course I’m a little bit disappointed because I wanted gold, but I’m still so happy and so proud."
But Zheng proved unstoppable, taking her unbeaten streak to 11 matches after winning the clay-court title in Palermo earlier in July.
She opened her Olympic campaign with a 6-0 6-0 win over Sara Errani, drew the curtain on Angelique Kerber’s career in the quarterfinals, then stunned hot favourite Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.
Swiatek settled for bronze, after beating Schmiedlova on Friday.
“Nothing can describe my feeling right now. Every round was super emotional," Zheng told Eurosport.
“It’s just unreal. I was hoping to get a medal for China and finally I (did) it, and it was a gold medal. I did everything I could.
“I feel my country will be proud of me, I will be proud of myself, and my father and mother in China, for sure they are watching the TV right now and screaming for this moment.”